“To be, or not to be: that is the question...” (“To be or not to be - that is the question”) - one of the most famous expressions in world literature. So famous that, probably, even those who have not read the tragedy “Hamlet” by W. Shakespeare know this quote and use it in speech. Let us also touch upon the pearl of English literature - the dramaturgy of William Shakespeare.

Quotes from William Shakespeare's plays

Almost all of Shakespeare's plays can be analyzed into quotes that are still relevant today. Let us recall some of the famous Shakespearean expressions that have firmly entered the Russian language.

"Brevity is the soul of wit" ("Hamlet") - famous quote from Hamlet with literal translation "Brevity is the soul of the mind". It was Shakespeare who first expressed this idea in his play on behalf of Lord Polonius. And later A.P. Chekhov will write in a letter to his brother Alexander "Brevity is the soul of wit". This quote has become very popular, and in Russian literature it is Chekhov’s name that is associated with one of the most famous sayings about brevity. But you and I remember Shakespeare's expression “Brevity is the soul of wit”, which is the original source.

“Frailty, your name is woman!” ("Hamlet")-Oh women, your name is treachery! This line was spoken by Hamlet when he was angry with his mother Gertrude for marrying Claudius immediately after his father's death. Thus, in his own words, Hamlet attributes the weakness and moral instability of one woman to all women in general. Frailty [ˈfreɪl.ti ] - fragility, weakness.

“Love is blind”- "Love is blind". This expression was first used by the English poet Geoffrey Chaucer in his Canterbury Tales (around 1405). But the phrase did not become widely known then and did not appear in print again until Shakespeare used it in several of his plays, including The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Henry V and The Merchant of Venice. So, thanks to Shakespeare, the expression "Love is blind" has become very popular and frequently used.

“Though this be madness, yet there is method in it” ("Hamlet" ) — « Even though it's crazy, there's consistency in it.". And these words are spoken by Polonius in response to the insane, incomprehensible speech of Prince Hamlet. In modern English this phrase is used as an idiom “There’s a method in my (or somebody’s) madness”, which means that if someone is acting strange (crazy), there is a reason for it.

Shakespearean idioms

It's Greek to me - means that you don’t know or don’t understand something, it’s like a stranger to you foreign language. Russian equivalent - “This is a Chinese letter for me”. The phrase originally appeared in Latin, "Graecum est, non legitur" ("This is Greek, it cannot be read"). The fact is that in the Middle Ages, scribes in monasteries marked with this phrase those parts of the Greek text that they could not translate. This phrase entered the English language thanks to Shakespeare and his tragedy “Julius Caesar” (1599) - "It was Greek to me" . This expression was also used by the English playwright Thomas Decker.

“I will wear my heart upon my sleeve” (“Othello”) - and these are lines from Shakespeare's Othello. To wear one's heart upon one's sleeve means not to hide, not to hold back emotions, literally “to wear your heart on your sleeve.” The origin of this idiom is associated with an interesting medieval custom. During knightly tournaments, knights, as a sign of their devotion, tied a ribbon on their hands, which was given to them by their lady of the heart. Thus, the knights openly told everyone about their affection. It was Shakespeare who recorded this expression in writing in this meaning in his “Othello”.

"The world is my oyster" ("The Merry Wives of Windsor") is a very unusual phrase that means “There are many different opportunities in the world,” and in order to achieve something in life, you need to grab every opportunity. An oyster with a pearl inside symbolizes wealth and prosperity. This idiom first appeared in Shakespeare's play The Merry Wives of Windsor. Sir Falstaff refuses to lend money to Pistol, who responds by saying famous phrase “Why, then, the world’s mine oyster, Which I with sword will open”.

"In a pickle" ("The Tempest") is a very original idiom, which is often associated with the name of William Shakespeare, since he was one of the first to use this expression in his play “The Tempest.” In modern English be in a pickle means "to be in trouble, in a difficult situation." In a pickle(literally “in brine, in marinade”) - means “in a trouble (in trouble).” If we go back, we will find that the word "pickle" comes from the Dutch word "pekel" - pickle (spicy salted vinegar, which was used for pickling vegetables). Most likely the value in a pickle“in trouble” came from exactly that: to be in a difficult situation, like vegetables that have fallen into a brine, mixed up and completely disoriented. But it is also obvious that in Shakespeare this expression means “to be in a state of intoxication, that is, to be in a deplorable state” (pickled - pickled, salty, drunk). This can be seen from the context in which this phrase is used:

Alonso: How came thou in this pickle? (in modern English “How did you get so drunk?”)
Trinculo:I have been in such a pickle, since I saw you last, …

Note that the idioms given above are very original. At the same time, they are widely used in modern English. I hope that you will begin to use them in your speech, not forgetting who we owe these wonderful expressions to.

William Shakespeare is an English poet and playwright, often considered the greatest English-language writer and one of the world's best playwrights. Often called the national poet of England. The extant works, including some written jointly with other authors, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, 4 poems and 3 epitaphs. Shakespeare's plays have been translated into all major languages ​​and are performed more often than the works of other playwrights.

Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: daughter Suzanne and twins Hamnet and Judith. Shakespeare's career began between 1585 and 1592, when he moved to London. He soon became a successful actor, playwright, and co-owner of a theater company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. Around 1613, at the age of 48, he returned to Stratford, where he died three years later. There is little historical evidence of Shakespeare's life, and theories about his life are created on the basis of official documents and testimonies of contemporaries, so in scientific community questions are still being discussed regarding his appearance and religious views, and there is also a point of view that the works attributed to him were created by someone else; it is popular in culture, although rejected by the vast majority of Shakespeare scholars.

Most of Shakespeare's works were written between 1589 and 1613. His early plays are mainly comedies and chronicles, in which Shakespeare excelled considerably. Then came a period of tragedy in his work, including Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and Macbeth, which are considered among the best in the English language. At the end of his career, Shakespeare wrote several tragicomedies and also collaborated with other writers.

Many of Shakespeare's plays were published during his lifetime. In 1623, two of Shakespeare's friends, John Heming and Henry Condell, published the First Folio, a collection of all but two of Shakespeare's plays currently included in the canon. Later, Shakespeare was discussed by various researchers varying degrees several more plays are attributed to evidence.

Already during his lifetime, Shakespeare received praise for his works, but he truly became popular only in the 19th century. In particular, the Romantics and Victorians worshiped Shakespeare so much that Bernard Shaw called it "bardolatry." Shakespeare's works remain popular today and are constantly being studied and reinterpreted to suit political and cultural conditions.

Not only did he give the world some of the most unforgettable plays that have stood the test of time, he also enriched the language big amount wonderful phrases.

In fact, many modern English phrases came from quotes from Shakespeare's works. Reading Shakespeare's works, one may be surprised at how many of his phrases have passed into everyday use in modern English.

This article will present 10 Shakespeare quotes that have found their way into our everyday speech. Accordingly, an example of the modern use of the phrase, its translation, as well as an excerpt from the poet’s works where this expression is used will be shown.

1. Bated Breath– excited, excited, or with great interest to watch what will happen

Example: ‘We waited with batted breath to find out who had won’. We waited excitedly, wanting to know who won.

Shylock:
Shall I bend low and in a bondman's key,
With batted breath and whisp'ring humility,
("The Merchant of Venice")

2. Cruel to be kind- saying or doing something unkind, but with the intention of helping someone

Example: ‘I told her the facts – sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind’. I told her the facts - sometimes you have to be cruel for the good of others.

Hamlet:
So good night again.
I must be cruel only to be kind.
Thus bad begins and worse remains behind.
("Hamlet")

3.Foregone conclusion– a result that you can be sure of even before everything happens

Example: ‘ That's the the company was moving to California was a foregone conclusion‘. It was immediately clear that the company would move to California.

Othello:
O monstrous, monstrous!
Iago:
Nay, this was but his dream.
Othello:
But this denoted a foregone conclusion.
("Othello")

4. Eat someone out of house and home (humorous) – eating too much of someone else's food while being a guest in someone's house

Example:’My nephews came to see me at the weekend and ate me out of house and home!’ My nephews came to visit me over the weekend and ate all my food!

Hostess Quickly:
“He hath eaten me out of house and home, he hat put all my substance into that fat belly of his”
("Henry IV" Part 2)

5. Wear my heart on my sleeve- show your feelings to other people

Example: ‘You always know how Jack is feeling, because he wears his heart on his sleeve’. You always know how Jack feels because he always shows it.

Iago:
“In complement extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve”
("Othello")

6. In my heart of hearts- used when you know the truth but don't want to admit it

Example: ‘ In his heart of hearts, he knew that he would have to sell the company’. He knew deep down that he would have to sell the company.

Hamlet:
“That is not passion’s slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart, as I do thee.”
("Hamlet")

7. In/At one fell swoop- one unexpected action

Example:' In one fell swoop, he’s destroyed everything we’ve achieved in the last year’. In one moment, he destroyed everything he had achieved over the past year.

MacDuff (on hearing that all his family have been killed):
“What, all my pretty chickens, and their dam, at one fell swoop?”
("Macbeth")

8. Short font- a strong and direct refusal to do something

Example:’I’ll give them short text if they ask me for money’. I will give them a firm rebuff if they ask me for money.

Ratcliffe:
“Come, come, dispatch: the Duke would be at dinner
Make a short text:he longs to see your head.”
("Richard III")

9. What the Dickens (informal, outdated) - an exclamation made in rage or surprise

Example: ‘ What the dickens do you think you’re doing?’ What the hell are you doing?!

Ford:
Where had you this pretty weathercock?
Mrs. Page:
“I can't tell what the dickens his name is my husband had
him of. What do you call your knight’s name, sirrah?”
("The Merry Wives of Windsor")

Note: The word 'dickens' here means 'devil, devil', not Charles Dickens.

10. Wild-Goose Chase- a futile pursuit, a futile hunt

Example: ‘I wasted all afternoon on a wild goose chase– it was so annoying’. I spent the whole afternoon on a useless task - it's so annoying.

Mercutio:
“Nay, if our wits run the wild-goose chase, I am done; for
thou hast more of the wild goose in one of thy wits than, I am
sure, I have in my whole five.”
("Romeo and Juliet")

Perhaps many of you who are familiar with English language quite well, we have already encountered these expressions in various texts or colloquial speech. With the help of such phrases you can very well diversify and decorate your English speech.

Learn new words and phrases and try to put them into practice. Good luck!

Love is poor if it can be measured. ("Antony and Cleopatra", Antony)

The whole world is a theater, and the people in it are actors, they have their own entrances and departures, and everyone plays more than one role. ("As You Like It", Jacques)

Seeing and feeling is being, thinking is living.

Time is ticking for different persons various. (As You Like It, Rosalind)

After all, to know a person well is to know yourself. ("Hamlet")

All lovers vow to fulfill more than they can and do not even fulfill what is possible. ("Troilus and Cressida", Cressida)

There is nothing good or bad in the world - we came up with it all ourselves. (Hamlet, act 2, scene 2)

Have more than you show. Say less than you know. ("King Lear")

A fool thinks he is smart; A smart person knows that he is stupid. ("As You Like It", Touchstone)

External beauty is even more precious when it covers the inner. A book whose golden clasps close its golden contents acquires special respect. ("Romeo and Juliet", Capulet)

A rose smells like a rose, whether you call it a rose or not. ("Romeo and Juliet", Juliet)

True love cannot speak, because true love is expressed in deeds rather than in words.

What a strange fate that we sin most precisely when we do too much good to others.

To be or not to be - that is the question. ("Hamlet")

If music is food for love, play louder.

We know who we are, but we don't know who we can be. (Hamlet, Ophelia)

The sky lights us up, like we are a torch, to shine for others; after all, if you don’t radiate virtue, then it’s the same as not having it. ("Measure for Measure", Duke)

Our life is one wandering shadow, a pathetic actor who swaggers on stage for an hour, and then disappears without a trace; a tale told by a madman, full of sound and fury and making no sense.

Hope is the staff of love.

A wise fool is better than a stupid sage.

There are many things in the world, friend Horatio, that our sages never dreamed of. ("Hamlet")

Self-love is not as deserving of condemnation as lack of self-respect.

A coward dies at every danger that threatens him, but a brave man dies only once.

Excessive care is the same curse of old people as carelessness is the grief of youth.

What is a person like when he is busy only sleeping and eating? An animal, nothing more. ("Hamlet", Hamlet)

Excessive haste, just like slowness, leads to a sad end.

It is useless to grieve about what is lost and irretrievably lost.

One of the most beautiful consolations that life offers us is that a person cannot sincerely try to help another without helping himself.

Experience is acquired only by activity and improved over time.

To appreciate someone's quality, you must have some of that quality in yourself.

He who loves to be flattered is worth a flatterer. ("Timon of Athens", Apemantus)

The one who trumpets love to everyone does not love.

Day after day we whisper: “Tomorrow, tomorrow” / So with quiet steps life creeps / Towards the last unfinished page. ("Macbeth", Macbeth)

Happy is the one who, hearing blasphemy against himself, can use it to correct himself.

There is no complete happiness without an admixture of suffering.

To triumph over conquered death. ("Sonnets")

Be true to yourself, and then, as surely as night follows day, loyalty to others will follow. (Hamlet, Polonius)

Time is the mother and nurse of all good things. ("Two Gentlemen of Verona", Proteus)

Denial of one's talent is always a guarantee of talent.

Our personality is a garden, and our will is its gardener.

Sources: wikiquote.org stratford.ru

Other articles in the literary diary:

• 05/27/2013. The whole world is a theater
• 05/24/2013. Pyotr Todorovsky died
• 05/18/2013. History of some of the banned books
• 13.05.2013. Quotes from the works of William Shakespeare
• 05/09/2013. Shakespeare As You Like It English. As You Like I

The daily audience of the portal Stikhi.ru is about 200 thousand visitors, who total amount view more than two million pages according to the traffic counter, which is located to the right of this text. Each column contains two numbers: the number of views and the number of visitors.

These are excerpts from his literary works, poetic or prose. Considering that the playwright did not leave behind lengthy memoirs, autobiographies and letters, this is the only source of his thoughts.

For his time, Mr. Shakespeare was a true literary revolutionary. His plays reflected the ideas of the Renaissance and romanticism, ancient traditions, detailed description mores of society and motives of actions.

Sayings about love

The tragedy "Romeo and Juliet" is one of the most famous works in the world, part school curriculum many countries, a popular subject for film adaptations. Almost all of the playwright's plays are permeated with the theme of love passions. Among the most famous quotes William Shakespeare is worth highlighting the following:

• "Love is weaker than the fear of death."
• "Love and reason rarely live in harmony."
• “Love is blind” (a popular variation is “Love is blind and feeble-minded”).
• "The stronger the passion, the sadder the end."
• “Love runs away from those who chase it. And it throws itself on the neck of those who run away.”
• “Words of love grow numb when separated.”
• "Love cannot be stopped by stone walls."

Statements about love (especially unhappy or unrequited love) were at the peak of popularity in the 19th century, when strict morals forced people to use allegories, and love correspondence sometimes resembled a code.

Aphorisms about life, feelings and death

The playwright is a master of “turning out” human nature, showing the innermost, exaggerating emotions, showing ugly manifestations of feelings. Many of William Shakespeare's quotes about life have become a kind of motto or motivation. The saying is especially widely known: “Do what you must, and let what will be be.”

• "Follow the voice of reason, not anger."
• "Pleasant work cures grief."
• "Fear is the lowest of feelings."
• "Youth often sins in haste."
• "People are the masters of their own destiny."
• “To catch happiness, you need to learn to run fast.”

Shakespeare, being the creator of cult plays and the ruler of thoughts, was able to talk about death in beautiful words. His dramas dealt with the end of life without causing viewers and readers to feel an overwhelming sense of hopelessness. Most famous aphorism on this topic it sounds like this: “If the sickle of death is inexorable, leave it to your descendants - let them argue with it!”

One cannot ignore William Shakespeare's thoughts and quotes about human nature:

• “Power is dangerous when conscience is at odds with it.”
• "Tears are a woman's weapon."
• "Arrogance is a fragile material."
• "Virtue does not escape the scratches of slander."

and religion

William Shakespeare's quotes, known to a wide circle of people, contain almost no mention of God, faith and religion. However, the playwright was distinguished by decent religiosity for the 16th century. In his works, characters cry out to God, their actions are imbued with spirituality. Shakespeare also dedicated some of his sonnets to religion. And not only Christian, but also ancient (sonnet No. 153 “God Cupid”). Among the most famous sayings:

• "Ignorance is the curse of God. Knowledge is the wings that carry us to heaven."
• "The devil is able to quote Scripture for his own purposes."
• 2 Before God had time to create a dozen women, the devils had already seduced their heels.”

Shakespeare's idioms and translation features

In his works, the playwright often uses idioms - phrases whose meaning is understandable only to native speakers. So, when translating some works, it is necessary to use expressions that are similar in meaning or even remove idioms from the text.

It was Greek to me (tragedy “Julius Caesar”, 1599) - can be translated as “you can’t understand something because it sounds like a foreign language.” The closest in meaning is “Chinese letter”.

In a pickle (the play “The Storm”) is completely impossible to translate into Russian, because its meaning is to describe the state: “To be in a situation where you feel like a vegetable placed in a marinade, wrinkled and salted.”

Compared to Russian, native language The playwright is too static, and therefore William Shakespeare in English with translation sounds different. It all depends on the translator and the context. But regardless of the place of words in the statement, their meaning remains the same.